Two Oregon Arts Commission board members including vice chair of the commission OSU-Cascades Professor of History Henry Sayre of Bend resigned Friday after they learned the commission’s executive director had been fired with no warning earlier this week.
One of them told the Statesman Journal he sees that firing as a harbinger of changes to come — changes he does not support. This report from the Statesman:
Henry Sayre and Royal Nebeker dropped off the commission after Chair Julie Vigeland teamed with Oregon Cultural Trust Chair Bob Speltz and Business Oregon Executive Director Tim McCabe to decide it was time for Christine D’Arcy, who ran the arts commission for 19 years, to be let go.
Nebeker told the Statesman Journal that D’Arcy’s firing was only one factor in his decision.He has heard rumors of a “restructuring or reinvention” of the arts commission and said he saw her firing as an “indication” of more changes to come.
None of those ideas for change are coming from within the commission, he said.They are coming from “higher up,” he said, although he didn’t know whether it was coming from Business Oregon, which oversees the commission, or from as high as Governor John Kitzhaber’s office.
But Nebeker said he sees no need for these changes.“We have a nationally recognized arts commission,” he said. “We have a prestigious position within the national arts community. We are often used as a model.”McCabe broke the news of her firing to D’Arcy on Monday.“I didn’t resign,” D’Arcy told the Statesman Journal.
“I was basically told on Monday that I wasn’t going to be the executive director of the Oregon Arts Commission and Oregon Cultural Trust any longer.”Her meeting with McCabe was “very brief,” she said, and came with no warning.
She was given no severance package and no real explanation for the firing, other than McCabe’s assertion that leadership has a “different vision” for the arts commission.“I was totally blindsided by the dismissal of our director,” Nebeker said.Sayre agreed.“I resigned because Chris’s firing was done without any consultation with the commission,” he wrote in an email. “So even as vice chair I was totally taken by surprise. More than that, I would not have supported the decision to fire her. I believe she is truly one of the most forward-thinking and visionary people in arts administration in the country.”For the complete Statesman Journal story: www.stjr.nl/19nrWTM
Shannon Planchon Named Interim Director of Oregon Cultural Trust and Oregon Arts Commission Oregon Cultural Trust and Oregon Arts Commission welcomed Shannon Planchon as interim director of both organizations on Monday, November 4.
Prior to this appointment, Planchon had been the assistant director of Oregon Arts Commission (OAC) from September 2004 to January 2013. In that position, she oversaw more than $2 million in grants management; helped establish OAC’s online grants management system; facilitated the individual artist career opportunity grant program; developed administrative processes and internal financial reporting; worked as the Commission’s accessibility coordinator and provided technical assistance to the field. Planchon was then a consultant with Planchon Consulting, specializing in technical assistance to nonprofit organizations and public agencies.
Cultural Trust Board Chair Bob Speltz lauded Planchon’s expertise and familiarity with the two organizations. “Shannon has strong working knowledge about the Trust and the Arts Commission – about budgets and computer technology, about grant cycles, online grant applications and evaluation systems. She can begin this role and immediately add value ensuring our programs, outreach and activities function without interruption.”
“We are grateful that Shannon agreed to return,” said Arts Commission Board Chair Julie Vigeland. “She has over eight years experience with the Arts Commission and Cultural Trust and is the perfect person to lead during this transition.”
Planchon’s experience also includes various positions in Alaska, including assistant director of the Alaska State Council on the Arts, where she managed grants programs, the Percent for Art program and the Literary Arts program.
She was managing director of Out North, a progressive interdisciplinary arts organization and manager of the Alaska State Community Service Commission. She also brings intriguing experience gained through her work as a village health aide, gold miner, commercial fisher and farmer.
Planchon received a BA in History from the University of Alaska Anchorage, with additional certification as a Community Health Practitioner. In assuming her new role, Planchon said that, “people should expect no immediate change as we continue our advocacy, funding and technical assistance in support of artists and over 1,300 arts, heritage and humanities organizations in Oregon.”
More details on the upcoming search for a permanent director will be shared as they become available.
